Cooling system

Abstract

A cooling system for a fuel cell of a motor vehicle may include a closed coolant circuit through which a coolant is circulatable, a heat exchanger fluidically incorporated in the coolant circuit for cooling the coolant, an open sprinkler circuit through which a sprinkler fluid is flowable for cooling the heat exchanger, and a channel structure fluidically incorporated in the sprinkler circuit. The heat exchanger may include an air inlet surface, an air outlet surface, and a plurality of cooling tubes. The coolant may be flowable through the heat exchanger via the plurality of cooling tubes. Air may be flowable through the heat exchanger from the air inlet surface to the air outlet surface. The channel structure may include a plurality of channels, which may each include a plurality of outlet nozzles via which the sprinkler fluid is appliable to the plurality of cooling tubes.

1 . A cooling system for a fuel cell of a motor vehicle, comprising:
 a closed coolant circuit through which a coolant is circulatable;   at least one heat exchanger fluidically incorporated in the coolant circuit for cooling the coolant, the at least one heat exchanger including an air inlet surface, an air outlet surface, and a plurality of cooling tubes, the coolant flowable through the at least one heat exchanger via the plurality of cooling tubes, air flowable through the at least one heat exchanger from the air inlet surface to the air outlet surface;   an open sprinkler circuit through which a sprinkler fluid is flowable for cooling the at least one heat exchanger;   a channel structure fluidically incorporated in the sprinkler circuit, the channel structure including a plurality of channels, the channel structure arranged in parallel with and directly adjacent to the air inlet surface; and   wherein the plurality of channels each include a plurality of outlet nozzles via which the sprinkler fluid is appliable to the plurality of cooling tubes.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible hose, wherein:
 the channel structure further includes two retaining units;   the two retaining units are (i) disposed spaced apart from one another and in parallel with one another, (ii) at least one of integrally moulded on and attached to the at least one heat exchanger, and (iii) arranged on both sides of the air inlet surface:
 the plurality of channels are formed by the flexible hose; and 
   the flexible hose extends meander-like between the two retaining units under tension and is attached to the at least one heat exchanger.   
     
     
         3 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of stiff tubes and at least one distribution line, wherein:
 the plurality of channels are formed by the plurality of stiff tubes and the at least one distribution line   the at least one distribution line fluidically connects the plurality of stiff tubes with one another on one side; and   the plurality of stiff tubes are at least partially embedded in the at least one heat exchanger and at least one distribution line is completely embedded in the at least one heat exchanger.   
     
     
         4 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of stiff tubes and at least one distribution line, wherein:
 the plurality of channels are formed by the plurality of stiff tubes and the at least one distribution line;   the at least one distribution line fluidically connects the plurality of stiff tubes with one another on one side;   the plurality of stiff tubes and the at least one distribution line are connected to the channel structure in an integrally bonded manner; and   the channel structure is attached to the at least one heat exchanger in at least one of a force-fitted manner, an integrally bonded manner, and a form-fitted manner.   
     
     
         5 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a separate channel wall plate, wherein:
 the channel wall plate includes a plurality of elongated wall elements arranged directly in front of the plurality of cooling tubes, the plurality of wall elements connected to the plurality of cooling tubes in a fluid-tight manner; and   the plurality of channels are formed between and delimited towards an outside by the plurality of wall elements and the plurality of cooling tubes.   
     
     
         6 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of channels are finned towards an outside, at least in regions, to increase an area of an outer surface of the plurality of channels. 
     
     
         7 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein a flow cross-section of the plurality of channels decreases in a flow direction of the sprinkler fluid such that a pressure of the sprinkler fluid in the channel structure is uniform. 
     
     
         8 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 plurality of channels are formed by a porous material; and   the plurality of outlet nozzles are defined by a plurality of pores of the porous material.   
     
     
         9 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of channels are oriented in parallel with one another and are each arranged directly in front of the plurality of cooling tubes; and   the channel structure completely covers the air inlet surface such that the channel structure forms a stone guard for the at least one heat exchanger.   
     
     
         10 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a radiator for temperature controlling the sprinkler fluid, wherein:
 the radiator is fluidically incorporated in the sprinkler circuit; and   the sprinkler fluid and a second coolant of a second coolant circuit are flowable through the radiator.   
     
     
         11 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein the sprinkler fluid in the sprinkler circuit is temperature controlled. 
     
     
         12 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a collecting tank for collecting the sprinkler fluid, wherein:
 the collecting tank is fluidically incorporated in the sprinkler circuit upstream of the channel structure;   the collecting tank, during operation of the cooling system is arranged above the channel structure; and   the collecting tank is at least one of (i) formed in the at least one heat exchanger and (ii) attached to the at least one heat exchanger.   
     
     
         13 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of channels are formed by a fluid-tight material; and   the plurality of outlet nozzles are defined by a plurality of openings that are disposed in the fluid-tight material and that open towards the air inlet surface.   
     
     
         14 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible hose and a plurality of retaining units, wherein:
 the flexible hose defines the plurality of channels; and   the plurality of retaining units are configured as a plurality of clips, are clipped to the plurality of cooling tubes, and connect the flexible hose to the plurality of cooling tubes.   
     
     
         15 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible hose including:
 a plurality first sections that define the plurality of channels of the channel structure, the plurality of first sections each extending along and adjacent to an associated cooling tube of the plurality of cooling tubes; and   a plurality of second sections that extend transversely to the plurality of first sections, each of the plurality of second sections extending between and connecting an associated pair of adjacent first sections of the plurality of first sections.   
     
     
         16 . The cooling system according to  claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of retaining units connecting the plurality of first sections of the flexible hose to the plurality of cooling tubes. 
     
     
         17 . The cooling system according to  claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of retaining units, wherein:
 the at least one heat exchanger includes two fluid tanks between which the plurality of cooling tubes extend; and   the plurality of retaining units connect the plurality of second sections of the flexible hose to the two fluid tanks.   
     
     
         18 . A cooling system for a fuel cell of a motor vehicle, comprising:
 a closed coolant circuit through which a coolant is circulatable;   a heat exchanger fluidically incorporated in the coolant circuit for cooling the coolant;   the heat exchanger including a plurality of cooling tubes via which the coolant is flowable through the heat exchanger;   the heat exchanger having an air inlet surface and an air outlet surface via which air is flowable through the heat exchanger in an air flow direction;   an open sprinkler circuit through which a sprinkler fluid is flowable for cooling the heat exchanger;   a stone guard arranged directly in front of the plurality of cooling tubes relative to the air flow direction; and   a channel structure fluidically incorporated in the sprinkler circuit, the channel structure including a plurality of channels defined by and between the stone guard and the plurality of cooling tubes such that the sprinkler fluid flowing therethrough directly contacts the plurality of cooling tubes.   
     
     
         19 . A cooling system for a fuel cell of a motor vehicle, comprising:
 a closed coolant circuit through which a coolant is circulatable;   a heat exchanger fluidically incorporated in the coolant circuit for cooling the coolant;   the heat exchanger including a plurality of cooling tubes via which the coolant is flowable through the heat exchanger;   the heat exchanger having an air inlet surface and an air outlet surface via which air is flowable through the heat exchanger in an air flow direction;   an open sprinkler circuit through which a sprinkler fluid is flowable for cooling the heat exchanger;   a stone guard arranged directly in front of the plurality of cooling tubes relative to the air flow direction;   the stone guard including a channel structure fluidically incorporated in the sprinkler circuit;   wherein the channel structure includes a plurality of channels that each include a plurality of outlet nozzles via which the sprinkler fluid is appliable directly to the plurality of cooling tubes.   
     
     
         20 . The cooling system according to  claim 19 , further comprising a collecting tank for collecting the sprinkler fluid, wherein:
 the collecting tank is fluidically incorporated in the sprinkler circuit upstream of the channel structure; and   the collecting tank is arranged above the channel structure such that sprinkler fluid within the collecting tank is flowable into the channel structure via gravity.